Hartley Burr Alexander



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Hartley Burr Alexander, Professor of Philosophy, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1873. He spent his youth in the Midwest and his school years in Syracuse, Nebraska. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in 1897. After receiving his doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University in 1901, he worked in the East as an editor until his appointment as a professor and dean of Philosophy at the University of Nebraska in 1908. In 1928 Alexander went to Scripps College in Claremont, California, where he helped establish the philosophy program and remained there until his death in 1939. During his life, Alexander studied Native American cultures, writing extensively on the subject. During his university career he wrote many books and essays on democracy and political thought. He brought this background to the work for Nebraska's Capitol. Alexander's philosophical ideals can be read throughout the inscriptions placed on the building and in the themes which the artists followed as they decorated the Capitol. Alexander's collaboration with Goodhue on the Nebraska State Capitol lead to his involvement in the design of other notable structures, including Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, the Oregon State Capitol, Rockefeller Center in New York, and another collaboration with Goodhue on the Los Angeles Public Library.

Alexander's themes for the program of art and symbolism in the Nebraska State Capitol were based on human settlement in Nebraska and the development of democracy as a form of government. In developing and writing the inscriptions for the interior and exterior of the Capitol Alexander drew upon statesmen, philosophers, Plains Indian lore and his own insight. The inscription over the main entrance of the Capitol was inspired by his father, who had taught him, "The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness of the Citizen." Watchfulness, and our responsibility as citizens to work for a more noble life guided Alexander's thoughts.

 

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

 

North Stair Buttresses


            

               
                  
HONOUR TO

                  
                  
PIONEERS

                  
                  
WHO BROKE

                  
                  
THE SODS

                  
                  
THAT MEN 

                  
                  
TO COME

                  
                  
MIGHT LIVE 

               		
               
                  
HONOUR
                  TO

                  
                  
CITIZENS

                  
                  
WHO
                  BUILD

                  
                  
AN
                  HOUSE

                  
                  
OF
                  STATE

                  
                  
WHERE
                  MEN

                  
                  
LIVE
                  WELL

               		
            

         

 
 
         

            

               
                  
Bison Panels on
                  the North Entrance
                  
                  
 

                  
                  
 BORN OF THE
                  EARTH

                  
                  
AND TOUCHED BY THE DEEP
                  BLUE SKY

                  
                  
OUT OF THE DISTANT PAST
                  I COME

                  
                  
UNTO YOU YOUR MOTHER
                  CORN

                  
                  
Pawnee
                  Ritual Song

                  
                  

               		
            

            

               
                  
ARISE WITH THE
                  DAWN

                  
                  
BATHE IN THE MORNING
                  SUN

                  
                  
SLEEP WHEN THE BIRDS NO
                  LONGER FLY

                  
                  
AWAKE WHEN THE FIRST
                  FAINT DAWN APPEARS

                  
                  
Sioux
                  Lore

                  
                  

               		
            

            

               
                  
IN BEAUTY I
                  WALK

                  
                  
WITH BEAUTY BEFORE ME I
                  WALK

                  
                  
WITH BEAUTY BEHIND ME I
                  WALK

                  
                  
WITH BEAUTY ABOVE AND
                  ABOUT ME I WALK

                  
                  
Navaho
                  Hymn

                  
                  

               		
            

            

               
                  
AS ONWARD WE
                  WEND

                  
                  
THINKING OF OUR
                  CHILDREN

                  
                  
MANY TRAILS OF BUFFALO
                  WE BEHOLD

                  
                  
MANY TRAILS OF
                  LIFE

                  
                  
Pawnee
                  Ritual Song
 

South Facade Parapet  

POLITICAL SOCIETY EXISTS FOR THE SAKE OF NOBLE LIVING -- Aristotle

 

 

 

North Vestibule Dome 

BEHOLD THEY COME AS HOUSEHOLDERS

BRINGING EARTH'S FIRST FRUITS

REJOICING THAT THE SOIL HATH REWARDED THEIR LABORS

WITH THE ABUNDANCE OF ITS SEASONS

 

 

Frieze Below Rotunda Cornice

 

HE WHO WOULD DULY ENQUIRE ABOUT THE BEST FORM OF THE STATE OUGHT FIRST TO DETERMINE WHICH IS THE MOST ELIGIBLE LIFE -- Aristotle

MEN SHOULD NOT THINK IT SLAVERY TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE RULE OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR IT IS THEIR SALVATION -- Aristotle

LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONS SPRING FROM THE MORAL DISPOSITIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE -- Plato

LAW AND ORDER DELIVERS THE SOUL -- Plato

A COMMUNITY LIKE AN INDIVIDUAL HAS A WORK TO DO -- Aristotle

 

 

Frieze Above Supreme Court Bench 

EYES AND EARS ARE POOR WITNESSES WHEN THE SOUL IS BARBAROUS

Heraclitus

 

 

 

East Lounge Mantelpiece 

PRIVATE HONOR : PUBLIC GOOD

 

 

West Lounge Mantelpiece 

THE BASIS OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO MAKE AND ALTER THEIR CONSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT : BUT THE CONSTITUTION WHICH AT ANY TIME EXISTS, TILL CHANGED BY AN EXPLICIT AND AUTHENTIC ACT OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE, IS SACREDLY OBLIGATORY UPON ALL: THE VERY IDEA OF THE POWER AND THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH GOVERNMENT PRESUPPOSES THE DUTY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO OBEY THE ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT

From Washington's Farewell Address

 

 

 

14th Floor Memorial Hall Frieze 

WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE: WITH CHARITY FOR ALL: WITH FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT AS GOD GIVES US TO SEE THE RIGHT: LET US STRIVE ON TO FINISH THE WORK WE ARE IN: TO BIND UP THE NATION'S WOUNDS: TO CARE FOR HIM WHO SHALL HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE AND FOR HIS WIDOW AND HIS ORPHAN: TO DO ALL WHICH MAY ACHIEVE AND CHERISH A JUST AND LASTING PEACE AMONG OURSELVES AND WITH ALL NATIONS

From Lincoln's Second Inaugural